Chapter 107: The Three Ocean Overlords

Chapter 107: The Three Ocean Overlords

The White Eagle Clan flew swiftly, and within a few days, they had deposited the Iridescent Snake beastmen, the Red Eagle and Grey Eagle Tribes, and the Elephant beastmen from Wanxiang City, all into the Poison Mire Forest.

Wanxiang City returned to its usual tranquility, and the tribal trading market resumed normally. Various beastmen tribes arrived one after another to exchange goods.

It was only then that Wen Ran realized the sheer number of beastmen tribes on the beast world continent. Some relied on forests for hunting, others thrived on grasslands and meadows, while still others inhabited mountains, freshwater areas, oceans, and deserts. They interacted with one another but maintained their distance due to territorial boundaries, coexisting without conflict and forming a diverse array of beastmen races.

However, at this moment, everyone shared a common goal: the snow season was approaching, and all were preparing for it.

Wen Ran and Lang Zhi stood before a stall run by a female Fish-Dragon Tribe beastman, admiring the colorful corals and lustrous pearls. Truly, this was the beast world—the quality of these corals and pearls was so high that they could fetch a considerable price.

The Fish-Dragon Tribe beastmen were half-human, half-fish in appearance, with human-like upper bodies and fish tails covered in scales. According to Lang Zhi, they could survive in both freshwater and briefly on land.

Wen Ran, looking at these Fish-Dragon Tribe beastmen with their golden-red tails, felt as if he had encountered legendary mermaids, though their tail colors resembled more those of koi fish.

Lang Qing chimed in boldly, "The young chief is right. The Fish-Dragon Tribe can live both in water and on land, but aquatic tribes have customs quite different from us land-dwellers. In aquatic tribes, females hold the highest status. For example, in the Fish-Dragon Tribe living in freshwater areas, females are responsible for hunting and protecting their aquatic territories, while males search for beautiful shells, pearls, and seaweed to build underwater nests, always ready to breed and raise offspring."

The female Fish-Dragon Tribe beastman chuckled upon hearing this, "Little wolf cub, you sure know a lot. Interested in having a little fish-dragon with me for fun?"

Lang Qing’s face turned pale, and he stepped back repeatedly, waving his hands, "No, thanks! I prefer those with fur."

The female Fish-Dragon Tribe beastman rolled her eyes, "Our vibrant red scales are way prettier than your dull black fur. You have no taste!"

With that, she forcefully snatched the coral and pearls from Wen Ran’s hands and said irritably, "What are you looking at? A bunch of people with no taste like you wouldn’t recognize something good even if it hit you!"

Wen Ran: "..."

The sea creatures were truly domineering.

A nearby seal beastman smiled and waved at Wen Ran, "If the Fish-Dragon Tribe isn’t welcoming, come take a look at our stall! We don’t have corals or pearls, but we have fish and shrimp you can eat to fill your stomachs. Their corals and pearls are pretty but useless—you can’t eat them!"

"Hey, seal punk, looking for a fight?!" The female Fish-Dragon Tribe beastman, Yu Zhu, rolled up her sleeves, her tail slapping the ground threateningly and raising a cloud of dust.

"Go away, I don’t have time for you right now!"

A white-haired female seal beastman waved dismissively at the Fish-Dragon Tribe female and introduced her goods to Wen Ran and the others, "These fish and shrimp were caught by us at depths of more than ten meters underwater. The meat is incredibly tender, a delicacy you can’t find on land. Would you like to trade?"

Wen Ran glanced at the offerings—mostly cod, krill, and shellfish, still coated with seawater.

"What do you want to trade for?" Wen Ran couldn’t imagine what a tribe of deep-sea beastmen would need from land-dwellers.

The female seal beastman rubbed her hands somewhat sheepishly, glanced at Lang Zhi, and said coyly, "It’s nothing too important."

Noticing her strange look at Lang Zhi, Wen Ran frowned and asked, "What exactly do you want?"

"Seeds!" The female seal beastman pointed directly at Lang Zhi. "Just let this wolf beastman mate with me once, and all these fish and shrimp are yours!"

"..." Wen Ran’s face turned green. So these female sea beastmen came ashore with their catch just to find partners? And not even partners for marriage, but one-time flings to be discarded after use?

Wen Ran felt his worldview being shaken once again.

Lang Zhi stared expressionlessly at the female seal beastman.

He kept staring until she grew uncomfortable, rubbing the goosebumps on her arms repeatedly, before she grumbled, "Fine, if it’s a no, then it’s a no. No need to stare me down—you're scaring me."

Wen Ran: "..."

This outing hadn’t turned up many useful finds, but it did reveal just how popular their black wolf beastmen were in the beast world! Wherever black wolf beastmen were present, the female sea beastmen seemed blind to all others!

Bān Shān sighed nearby, "I never expected to encounter two of the three overlord tribes of the ocean at this tribal trading market, and both have taken a liking to the black wolf beastmen!"

Seeing Wen Ran’s curiosity, he lowered his voice, "The ocean, like the land, is home to many beastmen tribes, both large and small. The Merfolk Tribe, the Seal Tribe, and the Fish-Dragon Tribe are the three largest tribes in the ocean. Among them, the Seal Tribe and Fish-Dragon Tribe are relatively gentle and friendly toward land beastmen. But the Merfolk Tribe is aggressive and domineering, acting as if they look down on everyone, ready to fight at the slightest provocation. If we encounter them later, remember to keep your distance to avoid trouble."

"Also, ocean tribes have this peculiar trait: the males don’t hunt. Instead, the females hunt while the males stay in the nests caring for the young and processing the catch. They’re extremely dependent on the females, super clingy—it’s downright embarrassing for male beastmen! Unbearable to watch!"

In the eyes of land-dwelling male beastmen, hunting, protecting territory, and ensuring females are well-fed are their responsibilities. They disdain the sea males’ "mooching" behavior and their tendency to become anxious and clingy if separated from females for even a moment.

"One thing to note: if we encounter female sea beastmen bringing their males to trade, don’t stare at their males. Those sea females can be fierce if provoked, especially the Merfolk Tribe males—don’t even glance at them!" Ban Qing added, shuddering at the memory.

Banna nodded in agreement, "The seal and fish-dragon beastmen may seem mild-tempered, but they’re not to be underestimated either. They dare to confront even the most domineering Merfolk Tribe head-on. If angered, they can be just as fierce."

Wen Ran asked curiously, "How so?"

Logically, the Fish-Dragon Tribe lived in freshwater, while the Merfolk Tribe inhabited the deep sea. One would think they wouldn’t conflict, whereas the Seal Tribe and Merfolk Tribe, both deep-sea dwellers, might have grievances.

"Because of the pearl beds. A unique pearl bed formed where the deep sea and freshwater meet. Members of both tribes like to sleep there and often argue over who occupies more space, leading to conflicts."

Wen Ran clicked his tongue. It sounded like the childish behavior of kittens fighting over sleeping spots.

......

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, "Make way! The Merfolk Tribe is here!"

The bustling tribal trading market fell silent instantly, as if someone had hit a pause button.

Wen Ran curiously looked toward the source of the voice. Before he could see anyone, a strong, salty fishy smell enveloped him. A group of merfolk, draped in blue-silver sheer fabric, their tail fins shimmering with iridescence under the sunlight, were sliding forward on their tails.

Leading the way were female merfolk. Their bare arms were still wet with seawater, and they carried sharp bone tridents at their waists. Each movement radiated undeniable authority, leaving shimmering puddles on the ground with every slide.

The male merfolk following behind appeared far more delicate. Their tails were slimmer than the females’, and their wrists and waists were adorned with colorful small corals. They collectively carried a massive clam shell, while a few held heavy seaweed baskets filled with various sea fish. They moved slowly, tails shuffling in tiny steps, appearing remarkably gentle and fragile.

Whenever a cool autumn breeze blew, they’d startle easily, hurriedly opening the clam shell to retrieve damp sheer fabric to wrap around their heads and bodies, leaving only their eyes exposed. The females, however, remained calm, not needing immediate water, appearing much more composed and less water-dependent than the males.

The male merfolk’s frail appearance starkly contrasted with the robust male beastmen of the land. Lang Qing covered his eyes and whined softly, "I can’t even look! So embarrassing!"

Banna nudged Wen Ran’s arm and whispered, "See those corals tied to the male merfolk’s wrists and waists?"

Wen Ran nodded—it was hard to miss. The small corals chimed softly with every move the males made, like wind chimes.

"The female merfolk tie those on as markers to prevent the males from getting lost."

Wen Ran was surprised, "The male merfolk can’t navigate?"

Banna gave him a frustrated look, "What are you thinking? They mark them to prevent other tribes from stealing the males. It’s common in the sea for males to be kidnapped and then claimed as ‘lost’."

Wen Ran: "..." Well, he'd learned something new.

......

The Merfolk Tribe selected a flat area and drew a line with white sea salt, marking it as their temporary camp—their activity zone. Outside the line was for other tribes.

When a beastman complained they were taking too much space and crowding his stall, a series of splashing sounds followed as a pile of sea fish buried his stall. A female merfolk stated flatly, "Is this enough?"

Her tone allowed no argument.

The beastman immediately spread his arms wide on the fish pile, laughing heartily, "Yes, yes! Absolutely enough!"

He then called his tribesmen, stuffed the free fish into leather bags, and left Wanxiang City straight for his tribe.

Wen Ran watched the scene, thinking, *These aren’t overlords; they’re tycoons! Look at that show of wealth—only those with mines back home could afford this!* Sand cat beastmen had never eaten sea fish. The fishy smell made them curious, and Mao Ye couldn’t resist hooking Wen Ran’s clothes with a small claw, "Sage Wen Ran, maybe we could trade for some sea fish to try? They look tastier than the river fish beasts."

No sooner had Mao Ye finished speaking than a beastman was thrown out, along with the beast meat he had brought for exchange. A female merfolk stood with hands on her hips, shouting, "How dare you offer us spoiled beast meat! Even the piranhas in our tribe wouldn't eat this rotten meat! Throw him out, far away!"

"This isn't spoiled meat! It's from a hunt last night. It's just been sitting out overnight, and the hot weather made it smell a bit. How can you be so unreasonable?" the male beastman whined pitifully.

The female merfolk immediately pressed her bone trident against the male beastman's throat, only withdrawing it after his tribesmen picked up the beast meat from the ground and took him away. She continued, "Also, our chieftain has said that if you want to trade with our Merfolk Tribe, have your tribe's females come to negotiate. Male beastmen are not qualified to speak with our chieftain!"

This dismissive attitude toward male beastmen left Wen Ran thrown for a loop, as if he had traveled not to a beast world but to a matriarchal society!

Are the Merfolk Tribe really this extreme...?

However, the clam shell carried by the male merfolk was quite impressive—not only beautiful but also large enough to serve as a bed.

Noticing Wen Ran's gaze fixed on the clam shell, Ban Feng, the zebra Ritual Shaman who had been quietly following the group, quietly warned him, "Don't stare at the breeding nest."

Wen Ran: "?"

"!" Banna quickly turned Wen Ran's head away, her face full of trepidation. "Wen Ran Sage, why are you staring at their breeding nest?! That's dangerous! I beg the Beast God for protection—may the Merfolk Chieftain not get angry!"

Seeing Wen Ran's confusion, Banna said a quick prayer to the Beast God before explaining, "The breeding nest is that clam shell the male merfolk are carrying! Its purpose isn't just to hold seawater for soaking light fabric—it's also where females and males mate. Judging by the size of the breeding nest and the fact that they carried it all the way here, it must belong to the Merfolk Chieftain."

"The reproduction of the Merfolk Tribe is different from other tribes. Female merfolk have a breeding pearl inside their bodies, which is crucial for bearing young merfolk. If the breeding pearl is damaged, they can never give birth again. That's why merfolk place great importance on the place for mating, the breeding nest. The quality of the breeding nest also reflects the male's capability."

"Because the breeding pearl exists only in female merfolk, females hold absolute dominance in the tribe, while male merfolk are merely seed-sowing tools."

"On the night of the full moon, males build breeding nests by the shore ahead of time. A row of various breeding nests is available for female merfolk to choose from. When a female merfolk selects a male, she enters his breeding nest, which is lined with soft seaweed. She then taps the male's head three times with her tail, signaling the start of the mating ritual. After the ritual, the male is driven out of the nest and only allowed back once pregnancy is confirmed;"

"If the female doesn't conceive, the male is punished by not getting any fish for three days. After three days, mating is attempted again. If the female still doesn't conceive, the male is considered useless and permanently expelled from the breeding nest, even facing ostracism within the tribe."

Wen Ran was completely baffled. What if the female merfolk were infertile? How would that be resolved?

This female supremacy based on physiological structure puzzled Wen Ran greatly. It seemed like the polar opposite of the beastmen tribes on land. Just then, a cold voice rang out.

"Little zebra who spoke earlier, come here."

A very seductive female merfolk swished her tail as she approached Ban Feng, speaking calmly. The water droplets stirred by her tail fin formed tiny vortices on the ground that lingered for a long time, indicating her incredible control over water.

As she approached, the dozen or so merfolk behind her bowed their heads and whispered, "Chieftain."

Ignoring them, the merfolk named Lan continued, "You, the little zebra with white ears."

The only one with white horse ears was Ban Feng.

It seemed the Merfolk Chieftain had her eye on Ban Feng.

Wen Ran winked at Ban Feng, with a look that said, "You're in trouble now."

Ban Feng stepped out from behind the crowd, his expression cool and detached. "You're looking for me?"

"Yes, you."

"I don't eat beast meat, so I don't need to trade with you," Ban Feng said, blinking his big, innocent eyes.

Lan smiled ambiguously. "If you don't eat meat, how about a mate? I'll be your mate."

Before Ban Feng could respond, an extremely frustrated voice came from behind the merfolk. "What about me?"

Wen Ran followed the voice and widened his eyes in surprise. Well, well, it was a familiar face!

Mao Bu, Mao Ye, Mao Run, and the other Sand cat beastmen who had come this time were all stunned when they saw who had spoken.

Mao Ye pointed at him, stammering, "It's... it's Mao Bu! How did he end up with the merfolk? Wasn't he kicked out of the tribe to die?"

Mao Bu seemed unaware of Wen Ran and the Sand cat beastmen. His cat eyes looked pitifully at Lan as he complained, "If you want this damn zebra as your mate, then what am I? What am I?!"